Thousands of women at risk of giving birth dangerously early are receiving a new test on the NHS to help ensure they deliver a healthy baby. Hospitals in England and Scotland have introduced a cervical swab known as the foetal fibronectin test in an attempt to cut the number of babies who die or suffer injury because they are born very prematurely.
One in 13 women who gives birth does so before 37 weeks, a total of 45,000 a year. Premature babies run a much higher risk of dying, being disabled or having sight, hearing or behavioural problems.
The test measures how much foetal fibronectin a mother-to-be has in her vagina. This is the glue-like substance produced during pregnancy that binds the membranes around the foetus to the uterus. Only women who are judged to be at high risk of premature birth are offered the test, which costs ?40.
If the substance is found between 22 and 35 weeks, it means the woman is at increased risk of giving birth prematurely.
With this indication, doctors can help to prevent the premature birth by giving women? tocolytic drugs, which halt contractions.
